Rice, California: More Than Abandoned Shoes
Once there was a town. Rice, California, formerly named Blythe Junction, west of the Colorado River,…
Rice, California: More Than Abandoned Shoes
Once there was a town. Rice, California, formerly named Blythe Junction, west of the Colorado River, between Twentynine Palms and the Arizona state line. Now the place is just a lonely train siding with the tattered remains of a few buildings, an ubiquitous “shoe tree” and an abandoned airfield watching cars race by at 90 miles…
Oro Grande: Where Cement Became More Precious Than Gold
The town of Oro Grande, dates back to 1852 with the founding of a trading post along the Mojave River. Gold mining operations began shortly after. First known as “Upper Crossing,” and then “Halleck,” Oro Grande was later named after the first mine found nearby. The name literally means “big gold” in Spanish. The history …
Fishing for Art in Bombay Beach
It may not have followed a three hour tour on the S.S. Minnow but Bombay Beach was founded on October 8, 1929 by R.E. Gilligan along the shore of the Salton Sea, the largest inland lake in the southern California. Mary Ann approves. Here’s some more fun facts: But wait, there’s more. The California Department…
African Lion Spotted in Amboy Was a Cool Cat
You may be familiar with the mysterious Chinese Guardian Lion statues between Route 66 and Kelbaker Road but did you know Amboy may have once had its very own living African lion? “Old Man Miller,” as he was known in the Amboy area, was the first person to spot a large African lion near a…
Bandera Shines Bright: Books From Deep in the Heart of Texas
Last week we wrote an article about our favorite desert books on our shelves. We would be remiss to our Texas friends and family if we overlooked our collection of Texas books. As many already know, we traded in the California desert for Bandera, Texas for a couple of years before returning to the land…
An Oasis of Books for Desert Bibliophiles
We originally referenced 100 of our favorite desert books five years ago. We still enjoy browsing museum gift shops and used book stores for nuggets of gold in the form of guidebooks, nature guides and history books. Discovering obscure out-of-print books is extra fun. Many new books have been published recently that also deserve our…
Amboy’s Historic Mural and Monument Reveal
We recently went to a historic mural and monument reveal at Roy’s Motel and Cafe on Route 66 in Amboy in honor of Amboy owner and Juan Pollo creator, Albert Okura, who passed away last year. It had everything an honorable tribute should have, live music, raffles and and delicious food, in this case, complimentary…
Dry Guillotine to Dry Desert: René Belbenoît
How many have driven by this older building with a bright green extraterrestrial on its door, located on Old Woman Springs Road in Lucerne Valley without knowing the startling history of the former mild-mannered owner with a French accent? Do they know an author of five books sat in the corner of the store, then…
Celebrating 30 Years of California Desert Protection
UPDATE March 10, 2025– RIP David Myers, President of The Wildlands Conservancy, at age 73. He passed away at his home in Oak Glen of natural causes related to Parkinson’s Disease. Thank you for your hard work for conservation, tireless diligence and most of all, your inspiration to so many. You will be missed. Note:…
How I Accidentally Graduated College at 68 Years Old
“How long have you been working on your degree?” someone asked me as I neared graduation. I responded, “Fifty years!” Laughter ensued. I never meant to wait that long. Yet, I had graduated high school in 1974. I took my first college course in 1988 when my first son was three months old while I…
